Monthly Archives: June 2008

I recently got some statistics from the state’s Department of Licensing that I thought
would illuminate the trend of increasing fuel theft.

I was wrong. Well, wrong that there’s been more
convictions for motor vehicle theft.

A motor
vehicle theft law that went into effect around 2003 in
Washington brought on stiffer penalties for stealing gas — a gross
misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and up to a six
month suspension of a person’s license.

Jon VanGesen (far left, in blue), a Kitsap County Sheriff’s
deputy, drives a patrol car for a living — but he also drives in
his spare time.

And it appears to be quite good at it.

At the 2008 Bluewater Wireless Road Course Challenge, held at
the Pacific Raceways Road Course in Kent June 7, VanGesen took
first in the semi-pro division.

It was VanGesen’s first road course event as a
http://www.nwlegends.com/.
But not the last — the win qualifies the sheriff’s deputy for the
Legends Series World Road Course
Finals, to be held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in December
2008.

Thus is law enforcement’s dilemma — particularly when a suspect
is a “flight risk,” meaning they may flee to avoid prosecution —
when deciding when to cuff them and, in stuffy intellectual terms,
suspend their individual liberties. Hook them too soon, and
prosecutors may not have enough time to put the case together
before their “speedy trial” clock runs out, but leave them be and
the public risks increased victimization if they are, in fact,
actually committing crime.

Barbara Dennis, deputy prosecutor who charged Bice with three
counts of first-degree malicious mischief, said the trial clock
wouldn’t be an issue in the case. And if — or rather when — further
arrests occur, Dennis said even if prosecutors don’t bring charges
once they’re arrested, they can re-file them later without worrying
about the “trial clock.” Only once statute of limitations runs out
— three years after the arrest in this case — would it become an
issue, she said.

We begin this Monday morning in the realm of crime and justice
with stories about Taser effectiveness, bank robberies increasing
in a sagging economy, and an arrest of car prowlers that appears to
have spiraled into a bigger investigation.

First with the prowlers:
two people were arrested early Friday in the south end of the
county and believed to have prowled more than 40 cars, according to
Kitsap County Sheriff’s Detective Chad Birkenfeld.

Sadly, this is appears to be another case of
opportunity crime. The 21-year-old suspect, who worked in
tandem with a 17-year-old girl, told detectives the cars that they
entered were almost always unlocked.

Police may soon have a way to avoid dangerous pursuits with the
help from a little goo, according to a recent Economist
article.

Around here, it’s not uncommon for a trooper or a deputy to give
chase to a motorist who decides not to yield to lights and sirens.
They are generally well coordinated events that result in the
arrest of the person without injury to driver or law enforcement
officer.

That said, they have gotten out of hand and become injurious —
even deadly — in many jurisdictions, and a new company called
StarChase has an idea to put an end to them.

You know the drill: you’re driving down (insert roadway) when
all the sudden your rear view mirror lights up with red and
blue.

The shock is soon overcome with one of two responses: either
fear (what did I do?) or humility (I just got caught
red handed).

I’m looking for a few good motorists to tell their stories about
traffic tickets. This isn’t the first time we’ve had this request,
however, I am planning a story in which your tale could be
featured. Don’t be shy now!

Conversely, local law enforcement officials have recently told
me traffic complaints outnumber all others. Therefore there are
many of you out there that are happy John or Jane Q. Kitsap got
said ticket, and are hoping he/she learned a lesson. I’d like to
hear from those tired of speeders shooting by their homes as
well.

It’s a safe bet that any cop in Kitsap County will tell you they
deal day in and day out with many of the same individuals along the
beat. Such repeat offenders are sometimes referred to as “frequent
fliers,” in certain law enforcement circles, but whatever the name,
they seem to log a lot of time in the backs of patrol cars headed
south to the jail in Port Orchard.

More unorthodox forms of jurisprudence are springing up around
the country to deal with these repeat offenders,
USA Today reported Monday.

It’s been six years since Kitsap County created its
roadside memorial policy, one that cleared the way for its
light-blue signs aimed at reminding motorists where a person was
killed in an alcohol-related crash.

Six years is also the same amount of time the county decreed
that each sign would last. But Marsha Masters, Kitsap County’s
local MADD chapter president, has been pushing to change that.

The Kitsap County
Commissioners heard arguments June 2 in favor of expanding the
six year time frame to 10 years. They’ve also discussed making it
possible for the “sponsor” of a sign to buy a new one ($350) when
it lives to 10 years old.

Hawaii is slated to become the 47th state in the country to add
an “ignition interlock” law to its books, according to a
stateline.org article.

An ignition interlock device — sometimes referred to as a “blow
and go” — requires its user to register their breath in a portable
reader before they can start their car. Of the 47 states that have
the laws — Washington’s is one of the strictest, stateline.org says
— each vary as to how many DUI convictions one needs in order for
the government to require them of a driver.

Stateline.org says some states, such as New Mexico, require them
of first time DUI offenders. Here’s Washington’s
law, courtesy of the state patrol.